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Finding a thoughtful gift for a friend or family member who lives with diabetes can be hard. That’s why I created this guide!

Diabetes gifts used to be less exciting than getting socks for Christmas, but now there are so many beautiful, useful, or just plain cool diabetes products available that I really want to share with you!

Collage of diabetes gift ideas

Table of Contents

How I picked the diabetes gift ideas to include

All the items in this guide are things I either already own or would be excited to unwrap myself.

I update this guide whenever I find a new product that deserves to be on it, so it’s always the Ultimate Guide to Gifts for Diabetics, no matter when you’re reading it.

Think before you buy: Life with diabetes can be overwhelming sometimes, and not everyone will appreciate getting a diabetes-related gift on a day that should be all about fun, family, and friends. If in doubt, I suggest you buy a gift that is useful for people with diabetes, but not explicitly made for them (like a foot massager or an Apple Watch).

Diabetes purses and cases from Sugar Medical

Sugar Medical has set out to make diabetes cases and purses stylish accessories.

Most of their products are made of fabric, which makes them relatively affordable, but the quality is still high (check out my favorites: the Diabetes Triple Zip Purse and the Insulated Travel Bag).

You can see how I use my Sugar Medical bag when traveling in this short video:

Many cases and purses have an insulated pocket for insulin and include a unique feature: the Sugar Medical Test Strip Trashcan.

It’s a small slit in the case or purse where you put your used test strips so they end up in a small, separate compartment. That means no more test strip graveyard in the bottom of your cases or purses.

You can use the code DIABETESSTRONG to get 10% off all Sugar Medical products!

Diabetes Triple Zip Purse from Sugar Medical

Sugardash

Sugardash is an external monitor for your Dexcom or Libre CGM, and honestly, this is one of those products I didn’t know I needed until I tried it. I had seen other external displays online, but didn’t really understand the appeal until I had one on my desk.

It’s incredibly convenient to glance over and check your blood sugar without checking your phone or watch. Since it doesn’t have alarms, it feels less intrusive, but the color alerts make it easy to instantly know if you’re in range (green) or drifting out of range (yellow or red).

You can have up to 6 users on a single device. You can connect via Dexcom, Libre, or Nightscout, and it does have to be online to work.

Buy on Sugardash

Sugardash

Diabetes accessory belt from SPIBelt

The SPIBelt (Small Personal Item Belt) is a fanny pack designed for people living with diabetes. It’s great for storing your diabetes essentials when running, working out, or just jumping around. Their medical line belts also have holes for pump tubing!

I don’t wear an insulin pump, but this is my go-to belt when I run or hit the gym and don’t have any pockets.

The belt doesn’t move or bounce around when you run, as some other belts do. When I run, I use this and bring along my phone, blood glucose meter, ID, glucose tabs, and keys.

Buy on SPIBelt

Open Spibelt with a mobile phone, keys, and credit cards

Medical ID jewelry from Lauren’s Hope

I really like jewelry (who doesn’t?), so why not combine a pretty necklace or bracelet with a potentially lifesaving medical ID tag? That’s what the creator of Lauren’s Hope set out to do, and the results are amazing!

Wearing some sort of medical alert identification is obviously a smart choice for people living with diabetes (or anybody who might end up in a situation where they need medical help), and if you want a beautiful and discreet way to do it, jewelry from Lauren’s Hope is the perfect option.

This is a great gift idea for a special person in your life!

You can see my Lauren’s Hope medical ID bracelet in the image below:

Hand holding a Myabetic bag and with a Lauren's Hope medical Id on the wrist

Medical ID accessories from MyID

MyID takes medical IDs to a whole new level, as most of its products feature a wearable QR code (Quick Response code, very similar to a bar code), making it easy to access your medical information in digital format.

You decide what information to include in your profile, and when your code is scanned, that information will be shared with EMT or hospital personnel.

MyID offers a wide range of options, including watch sleeves, bracelets, ID tags, wallet cards, and stickers.

The most basic wearable MyID is a medical ID sleeve that you can wear on your watch. I have the bright pink sleeve that I wear with my FitBit watch.

You can visit the MyID store to see all their products.

Here is a video of how I wear my MyID watch sleeve:

A smartwatch that works with continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)

If you wear a Dexcom CGM like me, being able to see your blood sugar readings directly on your wrist is absolutely brilliant, and both Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Garmin offer that solution.

Only Apple and Garmin have official Dexcom apps, but you can download an unofficial clockface to FitBit (see how in this YouTube video), and that works just as well.

Apple Watches offer a direct-to-watch solution, but for other watches, the person wearing the Dexcom still has to bring their phone with them, and they need to be no more than 6 feet from it for this to work.

You can read my review of the best smartwatches for people with diabetes to learn more or buy one of my recommended smartwatches here:

I use a Fitbit with the Dexcom app displayed on the home screen, as you can see here:

Fitbit watch displaying the Dexcom app

A foot massager

Most people enjoy a foot massage, and for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, a foot massage might even help improve blood sugar levels, increase blood circulation, and alleviate some symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

So why not add a foot massager machine to your wishlist? Most foot massagers are small enough to easily store in a closet when you don’t use them, and all the installation required is plugging it into an electrical outlet.

And then all you have to do is sit back and enjoy a massage. That sounds like a wonderful gift to me.

You can find the perfect model for your needs in my review of the best foot massagers for people with diabetes (or buy the Shiatsu Foot & Calf Massager, which I ranked number 1).

Foot massager machine

Lily’s chocolate

It has been a long-standing joke that diabetes chocolate, aka sugar-free chocolate, is so bad that you only gift it to people you don’t like.

But that has changed in recent years, and I think that Lily’s chocolate is the gold standard when it comes to sugar-free chocolate.

Lily’s now offers chocolate bars, baking chocolate, chocolate-covered nuts, peanut butter cups (that will make you forget the full-sugared ones entirely), and other candy options.

Different sweeteners are used in a variety of Lily’s products, but they do not contain maltitol, maltodextrin, or dextrose.

You can buy Lily’s chocolate on Amazon.

Lily's Chocolate

4AllFamily Insulin cooling case

A 4AllFamily cooler is the perfect solution for keeping insulin cool while traveling or in hot places (like the beach). It was my top choice when I reviewed the best insulin coolers and travel cases.

I also did a full review and demonstration of the 4AllFamily cooler on YouTube.

They come in a wide range of sizes, from one-pen coolers to ones that can easily fit 7 insulin pens.

I like this smaller one for shorter trips, as it is super light and keeps my insulin below 79°F (26 °C) for up to 16 hours. The temperature and how long it will keep it cold depend on the outside temperature.

But what makes 4AllFamily unique is the coolers that come with a USB lid.

If you get the portable medical fridge lid, it will convert your cooler into a mini fridge as long as it’s plugged in. That means it will keep your insulin at 36-46°F (2-8 °C) forever when plugged in.

You can buy the 4AllFamily coolers on Amazon.

4AllFamily Insulin Cooler

Frio cooling cases

Frio cooling cases are brilliant for keeping insulin at the right temperature when you are traveling or just out in the sun. With a Frio case, you can be on the road for longer without having to worry about access to a fridge.

The way this is different from other cooling cases is that there are no ice packs or fridges involved; you simply submerge the pouch in water, and it will keep your insulin at the right temperature for at least 2 days.

And after the 2 days are up, you can just resubmerge the pouch in water and get another 2 days of cooling, and so on.

You can buy Frio cooling cases on Amazon.

Hand holding a FRIO insulin cooler in front of a pool

Shimmer for a Cure Jewelry

What I love about the Shimmer for a Cure collection is that it combines pretty jewelry with diabetes awareness.

The designer behind the collection lives with diabetes and collaborates with Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF – Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

The Skyline Royale Collection is designed “to empower and educate, bringing forth a message of strength and resilience to those living with diabetes” and includes necklaces, rings, earrings, scented candles, t-shirts, and much more.

My favorite pieces of the Skyline Royale Collection are the tennis bracelet and hoop earrings, but there are plenty of other options, and they’re affordable, too.

You can check out the collection on their website.

Christel wearing Shimmer for a Cure earrings and bracelet

Diabetes Barbie

Yes, I got a Diabetes Barbie, at least for a few days until I found her a forever home with a type 1 diabetes family.

This one won’t be for everyone, but for those of us who grew up playing with Barbie, it’s pretty incredible to finally see a doll that represents our community.

Diabetes Barbie comes equipped with a CGM and an insulin pump, and hopefully, she can be part of breaking down some of the stigma that still surrounds diabetes.

Whether for a child with diabetes or simply someone who loves collecting meaningful Barbie releases, she’s a pretty special gift.

Buy on Amazon

Diabetes barbie

Diabetes Pancreas Plushie

This is another gift for the young at heart (or an actual young one!). A diabetes-themed plushie is adorable, fun, and comforting, something cute to cuddle that also feels relatable for kids and adults living with diabetes.

Buy on Amazon

Diabetes Pancreas Plushie

Diabetes books

Knowledge is everything when it comes to diabetes, and expanding your knowledge will only make life easier.

All of these books are written by people living with diabetes whom I highly respect and will give you more insights into the complexity of diabetes, exercise, yoga, and mental health.

  1. Daily Blood Sugar, Food & Medication Logbook | 3-Months Detailed Diary by Christel Oerum (me)
  2. Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner
  3. The Diabetic Muscle and Fitness Guide by Phil Graham
  4. Bright Spots & Landmines by Adam Brown
  5. The Athlete’s Guide to Diabetes by Sheri Colberg
  6. Your Diabetes Science Experiment by Ginger Vieira
  7. Yoga For Diabetes: How to Manage Your Health with Yoga and Ayurveda by Rachel Zinman

You can also take a look at this list of the 21 best diabetes books for more ideas.

Cover of Yoga For Diabetes

Diabetes Strong Merch

Show that you or your loved one is “Strong With Diabetes” with Diabetes Strong apparel and merch. Our designs are on hoodies, t-shirts, cups, bags, pouches, and more.

You can personalize your gift by choosing the design and color combination that you prefer.

I have at least one of each, but I really love my hoodie, pouch (I got it with the orange zipper), and coffee cup.

Buy here

Diabetes Strong merch

Donate to a diabetes organization

If you have everything you need and want to help people with diabetes, you could ask for donations in your name.

I’ve listed three organizations that all work hard to help people living with diabetes, whether it’s through research, community-building, or raising awareness and fighting injustice.

If you are outside the US and would prefer to keep the donations within your home country, most countries have a national diabetes association you can contact and donate to instead.

  1. Beyond Type 1 (BT1) – Founded in 2015, Beyond Type 1 is the new kid on the block. They have built a community for people with diabetes (check out their app), provide education, and raise awareness about diabetes. All donations go directly to these programs. They also have excellent information about diabetes-related subjects on their website. You can even find fitness advice written by yours truly.
  2. Breakthrough T1D ( formerly JDRF) – The Breakthrough T1D is a global organization funding diabetes research. Local branches have extensive community activities, education, and advocacy programs.
  3. American Diabetes Association (ADA) – The American Diabetes Association is the largest diabetes organization. Their mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. You’ll find a ton of resources regarding everything diabetes-related on their website, as well as local support.

As you can see, there are many great diabetes-related gifts to add to your wish list. If I missed anything, let me know in the comments below, and I will add it to my Ultimate Guide to Gifts for Diabetics!

Happy Holidays!